Hello! My name is Aida Hodkinson. I am an entrepreneur based in Ottawa. I would describe myself as a maladjusted nonconformist, kyriarchal feminist parent and vintage obsessed.

I operate a number of ventures: Lady Arkenstone Vintage, a clothing and home decor Etsy shop, Vintage pop up 613, a pop up shop that features antique and vintage inspired local entrepreneurs dedicated to circular economy, as well as environmental and ethical consumption. And lastly, The Cotton Pony, handmade cloth pads and personal care accessories that retail through Ottawa's first zero waste e-store, A Dream Lived Greener (www.adreamlivedgreener.ca)

Vintage.pop.up.613 started out of an idea to have a small scale and upscale flea market type of events that focus on handmade unique and odd objects made and curated by local entrepreneurs. Its really important to us to a support local and promote circular economy and ethical consumption.

The Cotton Pony was something I started after trying a few different cloth pad brands, with prices between $15-25 per pad, I was unhappy with them and they did not meet my needs. I began making my own and gifting them to my friends and family. I found I could make them for much less then larger companies, at a higher quality and I began selling them at the Feminist Fair, as well as through A Dream Lived Greener.

I wanted to do something I loved and that I was good at. I love picking and finding special objects from the past, I love surrounding myself with beautiful and meaningful things and I wanted to facilitate that joy for others. It was also important to me to try to do it in an environmentally-friendly way.